Ohio Minority-Owned Construction Firms Awarded $495 Million Contract From U.S. Army
Laura DeMarco The Ohio MBDA was Instrumental in the Deal
Two minority-owned Ohio companies have been awarded a nearly half-billion construction contract with the United States Army.
Clemons-Vazquez JV — comprised of Dayton-based Clemons Construction Co., Inc, a Black and veteran-owned small business established in 2005, and Vazquez Commercial Contracting LLC, a Hispanic-owned firm founded in Kansas City, Mo., in 2008, with additional offices in Cincinnati and Clarksville, Tenn. — has been awarded a five-year, $495 million contract from the U.S. Army and the Department of Public Works for construction and renovation at Fort Campbell, Kentucky.
It would not have happened without the assistance of the Ohio MBDA.
“The Ohio MBDA has been crucial to my business – and this project,” says Kevin Clemons, CEO of Clemons Construction Company. “Director Marco Grgurevic invited me to speak at an event in Cleveland. That’s where I met the group from Vazquez and we got talking and connected afterwards. I realized working with them would broaden opportunity.”
The contract will have a major impact on both the firms involved and other MBEs, says Grgurevic.
“The Ohio MBDA team is very excited to have introduced Clemons Inc. to Vazquez Commercial Contracting during our annual event in which we focused on Joint Ventures in the Federal landscape,” he says. “We couldn’t be prouder of the fact that our clients saw the value in combining their forces and creating a joint venture based on their complimentary services. This significant contract will not only be life changing to both parties but will also positively impact other MBEs in our Ohio MBDA network statewide.”